Uranus and Neptune are the most like twin from all planets in the solar system. They have almost the same size and mass, have similar compositions and structures, even similar rotation levels Which makes one striking difference quite confusing. Neptune is the azure shade, with a spy-rotating storm that is visible. Uranus is more than pale teal which is smooth and smooth. If the two planets are very similar, where is the difference in their methane-based blues?
New research, uploaded to the Arxiv Praprint server and wait for a review peer, claims have found answers. According to a team led by Planet Physicists Patrick Irwin from the University of Oxford in the UK, the extended layer of smoke shaded up Uranus, produced pale orb compared to further twins; Fraternal, not identical.
Uranus and Neptune, according to our measurements of two planets, are compiled very similarly. Small and rocky core surrounded by water coats, ammonia, and ice methane; Furthermore, the gas atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen, helium and methane; And finally the atmosphere above, including the peak of the cloud. But the atmosphere is not homogeneous; Conversely, estimated layered, like every other atmosphere in the solar system Irwin and colleagues analyze visible observations and almost infrared from two planets to produce new models of atmospheric layers. They managed to find a model that replicated the observations very well, including a storm in Neptune and the shade of Paler Uranus.
In their model, the two planets have a layer of bridge. This occurs when ultraviolet radiation from the sun breaks the aerosol particles in the atmosphere, produces fog particles. This is a common process, seen in Venus, Earth, Saturn, Jupiter, Planet Dwarf Pluto, and Moons Titan and Triton.
The researchers call this aerosol-2 layer, and on both planets it seems to be a source of cloud seeds that condense into the ice methane at the lower limit and deeper snow into the atmosphere. And at Uranus, this layer seems to be doubled from Neptune – and this is why the two planets look different.
“Because these particles are found to absorb UV, this explains UV reflectivity observed by Uranus and also explains why Uranus seems to have a pale blue color on the human eye than Neptune, because these particles are found to have reflectivity that looks rough. The spectrum,” wrote the para researchers on their paper “The lower opacity of the Aerosol-2 layer Neptune also explains why dark spots … it’s easier to observe in the atmosphere of Neptune than in Uranus.”
Under the aerosol-2 layer is a deeper fog layer called aerosol-1, where methane evaporates and moves the mist particle post. This fog particle then condenses into the crystal sub-micron hydrogen sulfide (that’s a smelling compound). The spectral signature of this region is consistent with ice and dark fog This Aerosol-1 area, the team believes, is where dark features like spots and bands observed in Neptune originated. If the aerosol-2 layer neptune is thinner, and more transparent, which will make this feature more visible.
It is not clear why Neptune’s aerosol-2 layers are not so dense as Uranus, but the researchers believe that the Neptune atmosphere might be better in cleaning the fog by lowering methane more efficient than Uranus This finding offers several avenues for further observational studies, the researchers said “Observations in the future of Uranus and Neptune … can help resolve questions whether dark spots and dark areas are caused by embezzlement or opening of the Aerosol-1 layer,” they wrote. “This will, we hope, the focus of work in the future.